Bonsai Techniques 1 by John Naka

What it is for

This is the book generations of enthusiasts learned to work a tree with. John Yoshio Naka explains how to read raw material, how to choose the front, how to set up the branch structure and how to reach the final style. The approach is practical: every concept comes with the author's own drawings, which show the before and after better than any description.

Technical details

• Title: Bonsai Techniques, volume 1
• Author: John Yoshio Naka
• Publisher: Edizioni Volonterio
• Pages: 265
• Year of publication: 1989
• Language: Italian
• Richly illustrated throughout with the author's technical drawings

How to use it

It is meant to be consulted while you work, not read straight through like a novel. The opening sections cover terminology and styles; from there you look up the chapter you need at that moment, whether it is structural pruning, wiring or root management at repotting time.

Anyone starting from scratch would do well to read the section on styles in full before picking up the shears. After that you go back to it every time you take on a new tree.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a PDF version of Bonsai Techniques 1 by John Naka?

Many people look for the Bonsai Techniques 1 and 2 PDF, but the work is protected by copyright and is only available in print. The Italian edition is published by Edizioni Volonterio: 265 bound pages, with the original drawings that a low-resolution scan would simply lose.

Is it suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. Naka starts with the basics, namely terminology, classic styles and choosing your material, and raises the level chapter after chapter. A beginner will find answers to the first questions, while anyone with a few years of practice uses it as a reference for more complex styling work.

What is the difference between volume 1 and volume 2?

The first volume of John Yoshio Naka's Bonsai Techniques covers the fundamentals: styles, initial styling, pruning, wiring and repotting. The second goes deeper into compositions, group plantings, landscapes and case studies on specific trees. The two complement each other, but this is the natural starting point.

What is included

• 1 copy of the book Bonsai Techniques volume 1 by John Yoshio Naka
• 265 illustrated pages in Italian
• Volonterio edition